Up until a few weeks ago, the race for San Diego mayor had failed to energize a large segment of San Diego’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

All of that changed when Councilmember Donna Frye threw her hat into the ring as a write-in candidate. With Frye in the race, LGBT San Diegans now have a clear choice for mayor: a progressive populist who, along with being a legendary environmentalist and champion of open government, has an outstanding and untouchable record on issues important to both the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities.

Without exception, Donna Frye has voted with us on every one of our issues. She spoke out forcefully and eloquently against injustice on the Boy Scouts lease. She took a stand in favor of public health when she voted to support the clean syringe exchange program. She joined with me to fight for the compassionate use of cannabis to help establish guidelines for the medicinal marijuana identification program. And she voted to add gender identity and expression to the Human Dignity Ordinance.

There’s a reason why Donna was named a “Friend of Pride” by San Diego LGBT Pride and was recently given an award by the Tom Homann Law Association for her contributions to advance the cause of civil rights for members of the LGBT community: She understands our issues and acts to improve our quality of life.

But Donna Frye doesn’t just deserve our support because she’s voted with our community time and time again. It goes much deeper than that.

Donna is a breath of fresh air in a political system that, at times, seems stifled by special interests. She is a true populist who will be a mayor of the people, by the people and for the people.

Donna and I share the desire that government in San Diego be as open and accessible as possible. That is why we boycotted closed-session meetings, spearheaded “The Right to Know” committee to open more of these sessions to the public, and pushed to have Prop D (the Access to Government Proposition) on the ballot. As mayor, I know that Donna will implement the spirit of open government and access to all.

Additionally, Donna Frye is probably best known as a champion of the environment. She and I share a desire to protect our beaches and canyons, preserve and create new open space and urban parks, and protect the quality of our water. Of the three candidates, Donna has the strongest record on the environment and she understands the importance that environmental issues play in our region’s long-term success.

I can’t think of one good reason why members of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities shouldn’t vote for Donna Frye for mayor, especially when you match her voting record on our issues to that of her opponents.

Let me point out that I like both Mayor Murphy and Supervisor Roberts on a personal level, and consider them to be friends. I would welcome the opportunity to serve with either one of them.

However, this doesn’t mean that I think either one of them deserves the unqualified support of the LGBT or HIV/AIDS communities. When you put Mayor Murphy and Supervisor Roberts’ records up against Donna Frye’s, there is simply no comparison. Mayor Murphy voted against us on the Boy Scouts. He also opposed the clean syringe exchange program and the creation of guidelines for an identification card program for medicinal cannabis patients. At the county, which is in charge of public health and social service matters, Supervisor Roberts failed to take up either of these issues, leaving the city to handle two important public health concerns which are arguably not its responsibility.

For me, this was an easy choice, and it’s why I have officially endorsed Donna Frye for mayor. A progressive politician with an activist’s background and a public servant with a desire to serve the needs and the will of the people, Donna Frye has earned our support.

Sometimes in politics, dynamics change at the last minute, and that’s what has happened in this race. I urge the members of our LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities to write in Donna Frye’s name for mayor when we vote either by absentee ballot or at the polls on Nov. 2.

Donna Frye is the clear progressive choice for mayor; not just for us, but for all San Diegans.